NHI Delivers the 15th NH90 NFH Caiman to the French Navy in Final Radar Configuration Standard

NHI Delivers the 15th NH90 NFH Caiman to the French Navy in Final Radar Configuration Standard

Posted On
Tuesday, 22 September 2015 10:59

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Naval
Defense Industry News - France

NHI Delivers the 15th NH90 NFH Caiman to the French Navy in Final Radar
Configuration Standard

The French Navy took delivery of its 15th NH90 NFH “Caiman Marine”
helicopter. This event took place in Marignane (Airbus Helicopters Facility)
where the helicopter was built in presence of representatives of the
French Navy and the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA). This helicopter
is the first aircraft delivered in Final Radar Configuration standard
(FRC).

In this
standard, the NH90 NFH “Caiman” offers better radar performances
in rough sea while the mission system is fitted with an advanced sonar
for better submarine detection and classification. The addition of a
Digital Map Generator facilitates the mission preparation and execution.

The French Navy ordered 27 NH90 NFH. This new generation helicopter
is designed to perform a wide range of missions from anti-submarine
warfare to anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, maritime surveillance,
and special operations including counter terrorism and anti- piracy.
The French Navy currently uses all the capabilities of the NH90 NFH
complex weapon system embodying an acoustic suite, a sonar, an ESM sensor,
a Chaff and Flare system, an Electro Optic suite, a multimode naval
radar, as well as a new generation MU90 Torpedo.

The NH90 is the optimal choice for modern operations thanks to its large
full composite airframe, its excellent power to weight ratio; and its
wide range of rôle equipment. It features a redundant Fly-by-Wire
flight control system for reduced Pilot’s workload and enhanced
flight characteristics.

The NH90 is proposed in two main variants, one dedicated to naval operations,
the NH90NFH (Nato Frigate Helicopter) and a Tactical Transport Variant
for land based operations. As of today, 249 helicopters have been delivered
in Naval and Tactical transport variants. A combined cumulative total
of more than 95000 flight hours have been achieved. The NH90 is operated
in Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway,
Greece, Oman, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand.

The twin-engine, medium-size NH90 helicopter program is managed by the
consortium NHIndustries, the Company owned by AgustaWestland (32%),
Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), and Fokker (5.5%).